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Summer is Here – A Time to Keep Your Cool
Rising temperatures are no joke. In Los Angeles the annual number of severe heat days is expected to rise from the current 14 to more than 44 over the course of this century.
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Ironically, the hotter it gets, the more greenhouse gases are released as power plants attempt to supply more energy to cranked-up air conditioners. Summertime cooling efforts account for nearly half the energy used by the average American home.
So what can we do to limit the impact of excessive hot weather? Smart home design, rather than chilling the air, is actually a more efficient way to beat the heat. This means building with more than just curb appeal or a view in mind. For instance, be aware that glazing facing south and west is going to cook the inside of the house during the summer season.
Here in Arizona homes can be built that require relatively little air conditioning. Harsh temperature extremes between outdoor space and indoor space can be mitigated by setting up light-filtration barriers outside the house -- typically through plantings, which eventually become denser and provide more shade -- thereby cooling the air closest to the building. This is important since 35% of a home’s heat gain can stem from solar rays directly hitting its exterior surfaces.
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Other helpful considerations are light-colored and textured exteriors, inset windows, and overhangs or awnings over south-facing windows. Shading from screens, shrubs or trellises on the west and east sides of the house also help, and at the same time give each side of the house a different look.
Indoors, air can be cooled by cross ventilation and vents that allow hot air to escape from high spaces while cool air enters in low spaces. Windows with low-emittance (low-E) glazing will reduce heat transfer, especially if they are sealed and caulked to prevent cool-air leaks to the outside.
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Remember, conventional air-conditioning requires a lot of energy, which, in turn, produces greenhouse gas emissions. It also contains fluorocarbon-based refrigerants that damage the ozone layer and contribute to global warming. If you must have a whole-house electric air conditioner, look for an Energy Star-rated model, with a Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER) of at least 13. The SEER is the ratio of the cooling output divided by the unit’s power consumption.
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Evaporative coolers are an efficient alternative to whole-house air conditioners. They use less energy and on hot dry days transfer cool moisture into the house. To improve indoor air quality, it is a good idea to add a reusable electrostatic filter to your cooling system. It should be washed monthly in order to optimize the system’s efficiency. And be sure to install a programmable thermostat set for 78 degrees F. Not only will you feel cool, you will be acting cool.
Call 928-300-5050 or E-mail me at Lee@LeeCongdon.com
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